According to Dr. Robert Epstein, adolescence is an artificial construct of recent vintage, unknown in earlier times or indeed in many parts of the world today. The creation of this category, and the assumptions that inform it (by state and society alike) have harmed young people, he argues, and are responsible for the anxiety and angst we associate with the teenage years. These problems are not evident in cultures that lack this category. We explore Dr. Epstein's thesis and book in today's episode.

Laura Nicolae, a sophomore at Harvard (and whose father fled communist eastern Europe), made some waves recently with an article for the Harvard Crimson about the cavalier way the campus left treats the subject of communism.

I've long been associated with the cause of nullification of unconstitutional federal laws, having written a book on it. Here I discuss various arguments -- historical, constitutional, and moral -- in favor, with special emphasis toward the end on the moral argument. Thanks to the Tenth Amendment Center for sponsoring this event.

Rothbardian anarcho-capitalists, who make up a substantial proportion of my audience, are often confused by non-libertarian anarchists, who don't seem like real anarchists to them. These anarchists, in turn, feel the same way about anarcho-capitalists. In this episode, Professor Gerard Casey reviews the thought of some of the key thinkers associated with anarchism.

In today's episode I share the remarks I delivered at the Mises Institute's 35th anniversary event in New York City in October 2017. No intra-libertarian drama here; just the hows and whys behind the importance and success of the Mises Institute, a place I truly cherish, and its significance for all of us.

There's one thing in particular that the Austrian School of economics understands better than do other schools, and it helps to explain why the Austrians in turn better understand how the economy works (and what makes it not work). That thing is capital theory. Boring? Nope. Super important. Here's what other economists don't get.

John Duncan (R-TN) has served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 30 years, and is the last Republican in Congress to have voted against the war in Iraq. He joins me to review the claim that the military has been "eviscerated" in recent years.

A promotional video about this school sparked a heated debate among listeners in my private Facebook group. The video describes the school as having no classrooms, tests, or homework, in which the students direct and evaluate themselves, etc. Is this a natural model for libertarians, or is it just plain silly? I talk to a staff member and a student at the school in today's episode.

Jo Ann Cavallo, who chairs the Department of Italian at Columbia University, found herself drawn to libertarianism and the Austrian School of economics because of -- who else? -- Ron Paul. She's now bringing these ideas into her scholarly work, with outstanding results.

Also, I can't resist asking her about Machiavelli, a figure I've never been sure I've gotten quite right.

Seamus Coughlin, creator of Freedom Toons, has mastered the art of using animation to convey libertarian ideas in a way that's genuinely funny, and not at all preachy. I catch up with him on what he's been up to lately, what the animation process is really like, and where he'd like to take his growing empire.

Michael Malice has written an important column for the Observer, on the fragmented politics of the West. In Europe, more and more political parties, favoring incompatible policies and ideologies, are struggling with each other. What does it all mean for liberty?

Economist Peter Leeson has just released a challenging new book, via Stanford University Press, that tries to make sense of seemingly irrational practices from far-off times and places -- ranging from wife sales to trial by battle, as well as things far weirder -- through the lens of economics.

Mark Skousen, who just released the 5th edition of his economics textbook, joins me to discuss quite a few topics, with special emphasis on why the Austrian School sees the economy more clearly than do other schools of thought. He takes on the "circular flow" model, the problems with GDP, and why the standard approach leaves out some of the most important activity in the economy.

Mises was of course one of the great economists, and casual followers rightly credit him for his work on the problems with socialism, or the origins of business cycles, or other topics with obvious policy implications. Often overlooked, however, is how Mises solved a major problem within economics itself, having to do with monetary theory and marginal utility. Bob Murphy joins me to give us an even fuller appreciation of Mises' genius and importance.

Actor and stand-up comedian Owen Benjamin lost not just a gig but also his agent and his management when he suggested that elementary-school children whose parents want to support their "gender transition" probably shouldn't be given hormone blockers. He hasn't backed down, and now, blackballed virtually everywhere, is building up an independent career apart from these creeps.

General John F. Kelly, Chief of Staff to the President, made some comments about the Civil War recently that sent the enforcers of orthodoxy into apoplexy. Here is our calm response to the controversy.

Bitcoin.com CEO Roger Ver joins me to discuss a wide range of topics related to the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, including its recent spike, ideological disputes within the Bitcoin world, the IRS and Bitcoin, whether Bitcoin is in a bubble, and a lot more.

In 2015 Ross Ulbricht was convicted of crimes related to the operation of the Silk Road marketplace, where people could buy and sell goods anonymously. He was sentenced to an astonishing two life sentences plus 40 years. The case was shot through with irregularities, outrages, and horrific precedents. His mother, Lyn Ulbricht, joins me to discuss Ross's case and where it goes from here.

Mike Maharrey, national communications director for the Tenth Amendment Center, joins me for a lesson in local activism, as he describes his public awareness campaign about police surveillance practices. (He's being sued, if you can believe it.)

Bill Binney, a cryptanalyst-mathematician and (formerly) highly placed intelligence official within the National Security Agency (NSA) blew the whistle on NSA activities in 2002. Since then, he's been through everything from a raid on his home to having a sympathetic documentary made about him. He joins me to discuss his ordeal, plus his views on alleged Russian involvement in the 2016 election.